Mi-Jack Conquest Racing drivers Wilson and Philippe make big improvements
during qualifying in Australia
source:
conquestracing.com
Mi-Jack Conquest Racing drivers Justin Wilson and Nelson Philippe both
improved their lap times from the morning practice during the first of two
qualifying sessions for the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise to net 10th and
15th, respectively, on the provisional grid. Wilson and Philippe have come up to
speed quickly during the first day of running in their first visit to the
2.795-mile temporary street circuit, and will have the chance to improve their
spots on the grid in Saturday's final qualifying session.
Wilson, who made his Formula One debut in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, is
enjoying his racing return to the land down under and has found the track very
satisfying, but he very much wants to move himself up to the front of the grid
for Sunday's race.
"I'm pleased with the progress we've made today, and I am getting a better
handle on the fast way around this track," said Wilson. "The circuit is very
challenging, but I am enjoying it. Even though we improved considerably this
afternoon, we are going to have to keep working, as we still have some time to
find in the car to be up front, so we'll just put our heads down and come up
with something for tomorrow."
The race weekend is also the first visit to this track for teammate Philippe,
who holds the record as being the youngest ever driver to race in Champ Car at
just seventeen years old. Nelson showed improvement in the qualifying, slashing
nearly a second off of his fastest time from the morning practice, but is
looking to keep progressing through the weekend and improve upon his career-best
tenth place finish from the last round in Las Vegas.
Philippe set the fastest times in the early segments of the thirty-five minute
qualifying session before pitting to make some adjustments on the car. His luck
ran a bit short, though, as he waited until the closing moments to make another
run, only to have a competitor end the session with a red flag.